Telecommunications system cooling fan incorporating a flange vibration isolator

Abstract

A cooling fan assembly for use in a telecommunications system, the cooling fan assembly including: a cooling fan including a plurality of radially disposed mounting flanges that are recessed from one or more of an inlet surface and an exhaust surface of the cooling fan; a chassis disposed adjacent to one or more of the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan, wherein a plurality of spaces are formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; a plurality of vibration isolators disposed within the plurality of spaces formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; and a plurality of rigid pins coupling the chassis to the plurality of vibration isolators. The plurality of vibration isolators are disposed substantially within a volumetric envelope of the cooling fan and the plurality of mounting flanges.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cooling fan assembly for use in a telecommunications system, the cooling fan assembly comprising:
 a cooling fan including a plurality of radially disposed mounting flanges that are recessed from both of an inlet surface and an exhaust surface of the cooling fan, wherein at least one of the mounting flanges is planar offset from at least one other of the mounting flanges; 
 a chassis disposed adjacent to at least one of the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan, wherein a plurality of spaces are formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; 
 a plurality of vibration isolators disposed within the plurality of spaces formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; and 
 a plurality of rigid pins coupling the chassis to the plurality of vibration isolators. 
 
     
     
       2. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are disposed substantially within a volumetric envelope of the cooling fan and the plurality of mounting flanges. 
     
     
       3. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis is disposed adjacent to the at least one of the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan in a spaced apart relationship with the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan. 
     
     
       4. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are manufactured from a substantially compliant polymeric material. 
     
     
       5. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rigid pins are manufactured from a substantially rigid metallic material. 
     
     
       6. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein two mounting flanges and two vibration isolators are used on an inlet side of the cooling fan and two mounting flanges and two vibration isolators are used on an exhaust side of the cooling fan. 
     
     
       7. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein four mounting flanges and four vibration isolators are used on the inlet side of the cooling fan and four mounting flanges and four vibration isolators are used on the exhaust side of the cooling fan. 
     
     
       8. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are coupled to the plurality of mounting flanges via one or more of an adhesive, an interference fit, and a fastener. 
     
     
       9. The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mounting flanges is radially offset from at least one other of the mounting flanges. 
     
     
       10. A method for vibrationally isolating a cooling fan assembly used in a telecommunications system, the method comprising:
 providing a cooling fan including a plurality of radially disposed mounting flanges that are recessed from both of an inlet surface and an exhaust surface of the cooling fan, wherein at least one of the mounting flanges is planar offset from at least one other of the mounting flanges; 
 providing a chassis disposed adjacent to at least one of the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan, wherein a plurality of spaces are formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; 
 disposing a plurality of vibration isolators within the plurality of spaces formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; and 
 coupling the chassis to the plurality of vibration isolators using a plurality of rigid pins. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are disposed substantially within a volumetric envelope of the cooling fan and the plurality of mounting flanges. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the chassis is disposed adjacent to the at least one of the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan in a spaced apart relationship with the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are manufactured from a substantially compliant polymeric material. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of rigid pins are manufactured from a substantially rigid metallic material. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein two mounting flanges and two vibration isolators are used on an inlet side of the cooling fan and two mounting flanges and two vibration isolators are used on an exhaust side of the cooling fan. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein four mounting flanges and four vibration isolators are used on the inlet side of the cooling fan and four mounting flanges and four vibration isolators are used on the exhaust side of the cooling fan. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are coupled to the plurality of mounting flanges via one or more of an adhesive, an interference fit, and a fastener. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the mounting flanges is radially offset from at least one other of the mounting flanges. 
     
     
       19. A telecommunications shelf making up all or a portion of a telecommunications node, the telecommunications shelf comprising:
 a cooling fan including a plurality of radially disposed mounting flanges that are recessed from both of an inlet surface and an exhaust surface of the cooling fan, wherein at least one of the mounting flanges is planar offset from at least one other of the mounting flanges; 
 a chassis disposed adjacent to at least one of the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan, wherein a plurality of spaces are formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; 
 a plurality of vibration isolators disposed within the plurality of spaces formed between the plurality of mounting flanges and the chassis; and 
 a plurality of rigid pins coupling the chassis to the plurality of vibration isolators. 
 
     
     
       20. The telecommunications shelf of  claim 19 , wherein the chassis is disposed adjacent to the at least one of the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan in a spaced apart relationship with the inlet surface and the exhaust surface of the cooling fan.